Raila’s plans to overhaul ODM

By Beauttah Omanga, Titus Too and David Ohito

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement party is to reconstitute the Pentagon, its informal advisory body, and launch a radical programme to recruit women and the youth.

The new look Pentagon will be expanded to accommodate different shades of opinion from eight regions in the country, and stem further fallouts in the Orange party as it readies for next year’s General Election.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) and Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei. Photo: File/Standard

Contacted on Sunday, party Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said: "Pentagon was an informal political organ crafted in 2007. It was anchored on the party’s constitution. ODM is still the strongest party despite challenges. We will design the 2012 strategy to fit the game plan."

Noting the injunction issued by the High Court judge Jeanne Gacheche last week blocking ODM elections, Nyong’o noted: "As of now, detractors are putting roadblocks in our grassroots polls, but we want the courts to resolve them faster to allow us assemble our 2012 arsenal.

The sounding notes for the revival of the Pentagon follows moves by the PM to reconcile with Tourism Minister Najib Balala, and his Agriculture counterpart Dr Sally Kosgei who had joined ranks with rebel MPs from Rift Valley.

G7 Alliance

Well-placed sources say some in the party also want to reach out to Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo in Eastern, to counter the so-called G7 alliance led by suspended Higher Education Minister and Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

Other names being floated to represent various regions in the Pentagon are Kisauni MP Ali Hassan Joho (Coast), Medical Services Minister and party secretary general Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o (Nyanza), Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi (Western), Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru (Nairobi), Water Services Minister Charity Ngilu (Eastern) and Minister of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, Mohamed Elmi (North Eastern).

As part of the plans, a youth league will be crafted to be the political mobilisation arm of the party at the grassroots, and inject younger leadership at county level. The party also plans to increase participation of women in its leadership and membership structures at the grassroots.

Talk within the party is that the proposed youth arm will follow the model of the ANC Youth League, the political youth organisation of the ruling African National Congress.

However, the ANC Youth League has a fiercely autonomous structure within the ANC going back to 1955 when former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela was its leader. It develops and implements its own programmes, convenes congresses and runs its administration, something many in ODM’s current would see as a threat to their power base.

"It is true that the party is focused on expanding its support base and all those options have been considered," said Kipkelion MP Lang’at Magerer, a strong ally of party leader Raila.

Nominated ODM MP Musa Sirma said the Pentagon and other systems should be revived to give more life to the party. "This is a party that is heading to win next year’s General Election and we have to ensure every system is functional," Sirma told The Standard on the telephone on Sunday.

He said more positions in the party leadership would make the party more active and that they expected to have more vibrant youth and women leagues to expand the popularity of the party across the country.

"Youth and women league representatives will be picked once elections are called in conformity with the new Constitution and also for the county representations," he said

Sirma is Raila’s strong ally in the Central Rift Valley and has actively fought in defence of ODM interests.

He said officials who will not defend their seats when party polls take place would be replaced.

"In an event of party chairman Henry Kosgey or deputy party leader William Ruto not participating in elections, their posts will be up for grabs," said Sirma.

Democratic ideals

He said there was no position that is automatically preserved for any individual. The party, he added would ensure democratic ideals are observed and that ODM followers will determine leaders who take respective positions.

Kosgey recently moved to Ruto’s camp and jointly officiated in two functions in Nandi Hills and in Kabiyet. Kosgey and Aldai MP Dr Kosgei have been strong ODM leaders in the North Rift region who also steered the ‘Yes’ campaigns against strong opposition in the region.

Apart from the Pentagon, the party will also replace chairman Henry Kosgey.

An independent source at the party secretariat confirmed proposals given to The Standard by four MPs who said the party would do away with the position currently held by Ruto to have only one deputy chairman in the party.

Magerer said it had been suggested that the Pentagon be enlarged from the original membership of six to make it more representative, so that some people do not feel left out.

The MP said a National Executive Committee meeting will be convened to finalise the arrangement when the PM, currently visiting Germany, returns to the country.

Two slots in the Pentagon will be reserved for Raila and deputy party leader Mudavadi.

Those who have been working on the new look Pentagon want complete new faces except for Ngilu, who will be represent Eastern Province, Hassan Joho for Coast and Chris Obure for the Kisii region.

The return of Balala has, however, complicated matters for the party in Coast Province. Also to feature will be Dr Kosgei whose initial proposal as a replacement of William Ruto as deputy party leader was resisted.

On Sunday, MPs Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) and Magerer confirmed that majority of the party leaders wanted changes in the party’s campaign strategy that will ensure Raila wins the presidency next year.

According to the two MPs, part of the strategy includes restricting the planned national elections to vacancies left by leaders who have defected to other parties.

And on Sunday Nyong’o appeared to confirm what the two MPs said, when he addressed party supporters in Vihiga. He said the party has its representatives from the regions and will only fill vacant posts in the coming elections.

Abandon the party

His remarks came barely a week after ODM members in Vihiga warned that they would abandon the party if the forthcoming grassroots elections were not free and fair.

The over 400 delegates consequently called on ODM’s top leadership to avert a fallout in one of the party’s strongholds in Western Province. They claimed incumbent branch officials had hatched a plot to rig the elections.

Speaking during a meeting that brought together delegates from five locations, the party’s branch Vice Chairman Japheth Havi said democracy in ODM would be tested during the countrywide elections scheduled for July 1 to July 5.

He said Raila should ensure ODM members elect officials of their choice. On Sunday, Chanzu said those elected in 2008 would not be replaced unless they are incompetent.

Nyong’o and Chanzu were speaking in Vihiga during a fund drive in aid of Kerongo Secondary School.

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, who spoke to The Standard in Kakamega, said branch officials who have wanting records would be replaced. "We will not wish to have officials who have been working against the party," noted Namwamba.

The party also plans to replace Omingo Magara as party treasurer with Mr Chris Obure who is also the Public Works Minister taking the position.

Party officials

Other top leaders likely to be replaced include Ruto, Adan Duale, Benjamin Langat and Hussein Mohamed. Those to be replaced are all allied to Ruto and have shown desire to decamp to the United Democratic Party (UDM).

The party had planned to hold elections from the start of this month only to be put on hold following a court injunction. Opinion has remained divided on what role MPs should hold in the party following a directive by Chairman of the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution, Charles Nyachae, that State officials and MPs should not hold party offices.

Raila has, however, disagreed saying political party leadership is not a spiritual affair where religious leaders will be brought on board as officials.

ODM’s opponents in the G7 alliance are promising to hold joint presidential nominations to pick a presidential candidate, a deputy, leaders of majority in Parliament and a Speaker.

Key members of the G7 include Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru, Ruto, Adan Duale, Magara, Eugene Wamalwa and Balala who has lately appeared to be warming up to Raila.

Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere who hosted Ruto and ODM leaders at the South Coast and Msambweni on Saturday appears to have filled the gap left by Balala.